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Date: 2023-12-06 13:14:11 | Author: PFF | Views: 708 | Tag: esports
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England coach Steve Borthwick is adamant his side will use the pain of their narrow Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat to South Africa to “grow into something brilliant” moving forward esports
Heading into the clash as heavy underdogs, England executed their kick-heavy gameplan to perfection and impressed at the set-piece to stunningly lead the Springboks at half-time esports
However, South Africa’s much-vaunted ‘bomb squad’ came off the bench, started to dominate the scrum and the kicking of Handre Pollard led them to a gutsy 16-15 win esports
Borthwick’s troops far outperformed expectations in the semi-final and although he was devastated to come up just short on the big stage, the coach is convinced the experience will stand his young squad in great stead for the future esports
“The whole team performance was strong,” said Borthwick in his post-match press conference esports
“We’re disappointed esports
We came here with a plan to win the game but fell short esports
Not far but a little bit short and we’re desperately disappointed esports
“But the players should be incredibly proud esports
We had seven players 25 or under in our squad, which was the most of any semi-finalist esports
South Africa had one esports
“We have a great blend in the squad and there’s lots to take going forward esports
We put ourselves in a position to win a semi-final against the reigning world champs and world No 1 esports
“In adversity, there is normally a seed in there that will grow into something brilliant esports
It’s too early to find that seed now but we’ll make sure we find it esports
We’ll take what we’ve gone through tonight, grab it and make sure it makes us stronger in the future esports
”England were narrowly defeated in Paris (Getty Images)Lock George Martin was a surprise selection ahead of Ollie Chessum but he shone in just his fourth Test start, with his maul defence a particular highlight esports
And Borthwick is convinced Martin has a bright future, while also highlighting the superior cohesion that the Springboks have after a longer period together as a coaching staff esports
“I thought he [Martin] played really well,” added Borthwick esports
“There were a good number of outstanding performances out there esports
George is another young player, only 22 esports
I would hope to see him in England shirt for many years to come esports
“We were playing against a team with coaches together since 2018 esports
It was an incredible achievement for them to win in 2019 and they have had four years of continued development esports
“They’re consistent whereas we’ve had four months with this coaching team esports
I’ve asked the players to approach training and the game in a different way; for the players to be willing to change is all credit to them esports
Tonight was another example of that esports
”More aboutSteve BorthwickEngland RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/2England will ‘grow into something brilliant’ after World Cup heartacheEngland will ‘grow into something brilliant’ after World Cup heartacheEngland were narrowly defeated in Paris Getty ImagesEngland will ‘grow into something brilliant’ after World Cup heartacheSteve Borthwick’s England came up agonisingly short in the semi-final Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today esports
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Serial qualifiers? It’s still too early to say, but for any Scotland supporter who cannot remember the 1998 World Cup in France or the years before, these are dizzying times indeed esports
The Tartan Army are heading to Euro 2024, their second successive appearance at the European Championships, and just their second men’s major international tournament in 25 years esports
Hampden has rediscovered its roar, and it is set to carry Scotland on their march to Germany next summer; tens of thousands will make the journey –many had already booked their tickets before this weekend – and it is all thanks, by and large, to Steve Clarke esports
If Clarke has brought the good times back, it is worth remembering the dark days he inherited on his appointment in 2019 esports
Scotland were barely able to fill half of Hampden as their men’s major tournament drought extended past two decades esports
A 3-0 defeat to Kazakhstan proved to be the end for Clarke’s predecessor, Alex McLeish, and rock bottom for Scotland; there was no hope, and no hint of the immense progress Clarke has since been able to achieve with what are still fairly limited resources esports
Automatic qualification from a tricky Group A was secured with two games to go, owed to a phenomenal start that featured the stunning wins against Spain at Hampden and Norway in Oslo esports
After the ultimately disappointing performances at the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 finals and defeat to an inspired Ukraine in the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup, Scotland took to their task with focus and clarity, forged from the cohesion and spirit Clarke has brought to the national team over the course of his tenure esports
If Scotland are famously one of those sides that always do things the hard way, progress to Euro 2024 has been serene by comparison esports
Under the guidance of the calm and measured Clarke, Scotland has become an environment where players want to play, mirroring a club side with the relationships within the group and the organisation of their approach esports
There can be no doubting anyone’s commitment to the Scotland cause – and that has not always been the case in recent years – while Clarke’s management style is to never allow anyone to get too high or feel too low esports
For all that Scotland’s 2-0 victory over Spain in March was a memorable night at Hampden, the key to qualification was that Clarke ensured his squad kept their feet on the ground when there was still a job to be done esports
RecommendedScotland qualify for Euro 2024 after Spain result confirms placeAndy Robertson injury: Scotland provide update on dislocated shoulder against SpainSteve Clarke congratulates Scotland players for becoming ‘serial qualifiers’ after reaching Euro 2024Clarke would be the first to point out that further improvements are still required ahead of Euro 2024 – England’s performance and Jude Bellingham’s class at Hampden last month made that perfectly clear – but Scotland will head to Germany believing they can be much more competitive than when they returned from the international wilderness esports
For one, that long wait, with the emotions it brought with it, is over esports
Scotland’s squad is settled and largely unchanged from the summer of 2021, and Clarke’s team have the experience of a major tournament to build on esports
And, as anyone who celebrated a significant birthday, a graduation, or a wedding will remember, the summer of 2021 was a strange time, with the UK only just coming out of spells of Covid lockdown esports
Scotland’s return required the full experience of the Tartan Army, especially with two games at Hampden and a third against England at Wembley, but a long-awaited party was dampened esports
Germany will bring full numbers and see Scotland at full voice; it will undoubtedly help a team who will aim to punch above their weight esports
Scotland dared to dream after beating Spain at Hampden (Getty)While there is a notion that successive appearances at the European Championships are a sign of some sort of Scottish “golden generation”, the reality is somewhat different esports
This Scotland squad certainly has talent and quality, but it is also one with gaps and holes, and is far weaker than the results under Clarke suggest esports
But the 60-year-old has found solutions and made improvements with the options at his disposal, while creating a culture within the group that has lifted standards and expectations esports
In simple terms, it is astute management at every level esports
Scotland, for a while, seemed cursed by having two world-class players in Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, but both being left-backs esports
There is now a genuine partnership esports between Robertson and Tierney within Clarke’s system, which is built upon a back three that has kept four clean sheets in six games so far in qualifying esports
Angus Gunn has made an assured start at goalkeeper after taking over from the veterans David Marshall and Craig Gordon, while Aaron Hickey represents a significant upgrade on Stephen O’Donnell at right wing-back – which was another problem position at Euro 2020 esports
The lack of a world-class striker – the Tartan Army would accept at least one Premier League-calibre option, with both Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams plying their trade in the Championship this season – has been mitigated as well esports
For all that Dykes and Adams have always put in huge shifts when leading the line, often a thankless task in any case, Scotland’s goals have been scored by another player with whom Clarke has performed miracles – Scott McTominay esports
McTominay was key to qualification with six goals from midfield (Getty)Underappreciated and perennially dismissed at Manchester United, and used as a centre-back at Euro 2020 as his country struggled to fit him into the side, McTominay has been the revelation of Scotland’s campaign esports
Deployed now as an attacking midfielder and given licence to break forward into the box, McTominay’s return of six goals in as many games has been beyond anyone’s expectations – as many as Erling Haaland esports
That McTominay’s success has come within the organisation and structure Clarke has installed is no coincidence; international tournaments often show how countries can rise as a collective, and Morocco, Switzerland and Wales are also recent examples that will give Scotland hope that they can extend their trip to Germany by reaching the knockout stages esports
“I said after Euro 2020 that we wanted to be serial qualifiers again, and reaching successive Euro finals shows the progress we’ve made,” said Clarke, typically level even as Scotland’s progress was confirmed esports
“We will raise a glass tonight to celebrate, but then it’s back to work tomorrow in preparation for our friendly against France esports
” There will have been many back home, however, who will have instead been raising a glass to him, much longer into the night esports
More aboutScotland esports footballSteve ClarkeEuro 2024Scott McTominayAndy RobertsonJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments 1/3How Scotland reached Euro 2024 – and why Germany will be different How Scotland reached Euro 2024 – and why Germany will be differentScotland dared to dream after beating Spain at Hampden Getty ImagesHow Scotland reached Euro 2024 – and why Germany will be differentMcTominay was key to qualification with six goals from midfield Getty ImagesHow Scotland reached Euro 2024 – and why Germany will be differentSteve Clarke has guided Scotland to back-to-back Euros Getty ✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today esports
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored Features Get in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsesports BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery Act Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy esports
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply esports
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